Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for APRIL 1897 April 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net January 27, 2005, 11:20 pm The Randolph Toiler NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE RANDOLPH TOILER", Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama for APRIL 1897 NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, April 2, 1897 LOCAL News The Toiler regrets to note that Mr. M.B. Bradley, who lives four and a half miles east of Wedowee is quite sick and it is feared by family and friends that his condition is critical. Mr. Bradley has been sick for over a month with some trouble of the stomach which does not yield to the treatment of his physicians and his condition has grown gradually worse. __ OFELIA News Mrs. Laura Knight, I am glad to say, has at last recovered from her long illness and is able to be out again. __ Uncle Billie Knight visited his daughter Mrs. Willingham near Dingler last week. __ WEHADKEE News Mr. J.W. Walker is all smiles this week over the arrival of a fine girl. John says there is nothing like being called papa. __ IN MEMORY OF MRS. LOUISA DUKE Louisa Duke was born in Troup County, Georgia Jan. 17, 1837 and died Oct. 29, 1896. She was the daughter of J.J. and Malinda Sturdivant. At the age of seventeen she was married to John Allen Duke. In 1862 she professed religion and joined the Methodist Church and lived and died an acceptable member. She was the mother of seven children, three of whom preceeded her to the Realms of Bliss. Four others, with their families are left to weep. About four months before the end came she suffered greatly but with patience, fortitude and courage. She was hopeful of her recovery and desired with great desire to go out on her mission of love to soothe the sick, suffering and dying. It was her delight to do all she could to alleviate suffering humanity. But alas! She has gone where there is no sickness, no suffering, no dying. She was weary and there was rest for her. Having a large family as she did, she had but little leisure time but she devoted it in studying god's work. Every chance she had she looked at her guide to see if she had come through the right road. What a beautiful example; let's follow it! I visited her about two weeks before the summons came for her and after reading some of god's word, we prayed together. After prayer I aasked her about the crossing and she calmly replied " I fear no danger. I would like to live longer with my husband and children but I'm not afraid to die." Her life was not a waveless sea, she had trials, conflicts and disappointments, like others have, but she had faith in god. Her life characterized that of a true, humble, consecrated christian. She was a devoted wife, a faithful, tender and kind mother, and a good neighbor.. G.W. Hall ______ NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, April 9, 1897 STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE Robert, the 14 year old son of Mr. W.J.M. Benefield, who lives on Beat 6 on Bear Creek, near Lamar Post Office, five miles from Wedowee, disappeared from his home some time in the afternoon of Monday last, 5th. inst., and notwithstanding diligent search and inquiry, nothing had been learned of his whereabouts up to Wednesday. There was no known cause for his strange disappearance and his family are very uneasy and in fact, greatly alarmed concerning him. He is fairly well known for a 14 year old boy, has light hair, blue eyes and tolerably fair complexion. Anyone knowing anything concerning the youth will confer a great favor on his distressed parents and all the family by letting them know at once. ___ Mr. A.H. Gibbs was called away to Lineville yesterday on account of the serious illness of his father. __ Mrs. N.B. McPherson, Miss Jennie Amos of Roanoke and Miss Lelia Sudduth of Opelika were visitors at Mr. Robert Willoughby's yesterday. __ A fine baby boy was born to Mrs. W.H. Mitchell on Wednesday night. The Toiler is pleased to learn that the little one and his mother are doing nicely. __ The Toiler notes with pleasure the happy marriage of Mr. Ben Laney to Miss Leila Harrington which occurred at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. C.C. Harrington at Peace, Ala., on Sunday morning, April 4, 1897. __ WILDWOOD News It is with sorrow that I chronicle the death of Miss Luthuna Stephens which occured at the home of her father, Rev. H.H. Stephens at 10:30 p.m. last Saturday. She was a bright and attractive young lady, just entering upon young womanhood. She was sick but a few days and died before many of her friends had heard of her illness. The grief stricken relatives of all those whose pleasure it was to be acquainted with Miss Lithuna. Mr. Minor Stephens, a brother of the deceased, is reported to be in a dying condition, his physicians having given up hope of his recovery. It is sincerely hoped that he may het be restored to health. (editor: we regret to learn that the young man died during the funeral rites of his sister. ) __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, April 16, 1897 LOCAL News Robert Benefield, the young mentioned last week as having so mysteriously disappeared from his home has been found, it is said, at the house of some farmer in the northwestern part of the county, to whom he had engaged his services. We have not learned whether Robert's father fell on his neck and wept when he found the boy or simply fell all over him with a hickory pole, leaving the weeping act for Robert to perform. ___ WEST WEDOWEE News Sheep shearing and cotton planting is the order of the day. __ Mr. Joseph Swint of below Roanoke was in this vicinity last Saturday surveying some land. __ Mr. Madison McBurnett and Mr. Sam Nelson are our champion gold prospectors. __ For the benefit of people who want to cross the river, there is a new public road and a ford that is very good for crossing. It is between Mr. Asa Wright's place and Mr. Jim Nelson's. I would say to anyone crossing to cross as quickly as possible. Cambridge is on the river above there. __ DINGLER News Dingler is a flourishing little village located in the western part of the county, west of the river, near the line of Clay County, between the noted little towns of Ofelia and Christiana. It is surrounded by a nice farming country and has some of the best farmers in Randolph County. __ Miss Hughie Hixton, Ofelia's music teacher, has moved to our town. She will conduct a music class here for the next month. __ PEACE News Corn planting is the order of the day. Mrs. Martin Hill has planted cotton seed. __ HIGH SHOALS News Miss Bettie Presnal, who has been spending a few weeks with her grandmother Mrs. I.T. Weathers at Roanoke, returned to her home a few days ago. __ Mr. Oscar Mashburn and Miss Elma Adcock were married last Sunday, April 11th. __ NEWELL News Health of community good except for Mr. Elbie Walker who I'm sorry to say is very low. __ WEHADKEE News Mr. R.Z. Harlin is all smiles over the arrival of a fine girl. __ On last Sunday evening at a singing at Midway, four women engaged in a fight, two sisters on each side. We are informed that hair was pulled freely. Such conduct is a disgrace to any community. __ NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION Land Office at Montgomery, Ala March 10, 1897 Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his homestead claim and that said proof will be made before the Register of the Chancery Court at Wedowee, Ala., on May 1, 1897, viz: James M. Lipham, Homestead Entry No. 24,234 for the SW 1/4 of NE 1/4, Section 24, township 18 South of Range 10 East. He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land, viz: George V. Landers, Wildwood, Ala., Albert Williamson, Milner, Ala.; Nepton R. White, Bernice, Ala., Wilson L. Ayres, Bernice, Ala. _____ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, April 23, 1897 LOCAL News Mr. Geo. Wortham of Beat 3, who has had a serious attack of pneumonia, is reported by better by Dr. Dean. __ Mr. M.B. Bradley who had had a serious and tedious illness is now reported much better. __ NEWELL News Mr. Ben Walker, son and daughter and Messrs. Brooks and Daniel from Chambers County are up to see the sick son of Mr. Walker, Elby, who is indeed very low. He is not expected to be with us much longer. The young man is at the home of Mr. J.H. Brooks, his brother-in-law, and is being waited on by Dr. Geo. Trayler of Lamar. __ BROCKVILLE News Graham, Ala., April 20, 1897 Mr. Jno. T. Kaylor and family of central Graham, visited his wife's mother of north Graham on Sunday evening. __ Mr. J.T. Johnson is on the sick list this week but he is improving. __ Mr. Lee Smith of Carrollton, GA was in town Sunday seeing his best girl. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, April 30, 1897 LOCAL News Mr. A.H. Gibbs has again been absent several days attending the bedside of his sick father at the home of the latter near Lineville. Mr. Gibbs is advanced in years and his family are apprehensive of a fatal result from his critical illness. __ A nice little boy made his appearance at the home of Deputy Sheriff A.J. Kent on Friday afternoon last week. Mr. Kent says he lifes the little fellow's appearance and thinks he will name him and keep him but he hasn't had time to call a family council yet to determine what his name shall be. __ JAIL News Ed. Laws and John Hollis (white) of Rock Mills were committed to jail last week, the former chaged with selling whiskey and the latter with the theft of Dr. McLendon's horse. __ Sheriff Harris and Deputy Kent brought in "Babe" Johnson, colored, on Tuesday last and lodged him in jail. He is charged with disturbing public worship. Babe has been dodging for some time past and gave the officers considerable trouble in catching up with him. __ There are now nine prisoners in jail, viz: Len and Ike Clifton, Aaron Fincher, Isaac Daniel, Ed. Laws and John Hollis, all white; and King Busby, Isaac Williams and Babe Johnson, colored. __ We are unable to state the status of the case of Isaac Clifton. His attorneys gave notice of appeal and it has been reported that the appeal has been withdrawn. In the meantime he remains in old quarters which he has occupied for more than a year. __ Since the above was in type, another colored man, Ben Lewis, by name, charged with disturbing public worship, has been landed making the tenth in jail. __ OFELIA News Mrs. J.W. Burrow visited her sister Mrs. Bearfield of Bearfield, last Saturday and Sunday. __ Mrs. Falkner is very sick. Aunt "Frankie" is one of the oldest ladies in this county and is loved and respected by everybody. __ George Hendon is the proudest man going - - it's a girl. __ Munson Knight has a young gentleman at the house. He weighs eleven pounds and is just like his papa. __ Mrs. Adamson is visiting her sister Mrs. Been this week. __ PEACE News Mrs. Eason has lost the sight of her left eye which was caused by a little boy throwing a piece of scythe blade and striking her eye. __ Married at the home of the bride on Sunday, April 25, 1897, Mr. Joe D. Washington to Miss Docia Burns. __ CLACK News Mr. Wilson Murphy, our blacksmith, was working in the shop and the scale flew off and hit him in the corner of his eye, burning it very badly, last Thursday evening. __ WEHADKEE News Uncle Tapley Hester is all smiles this week over the arrival of a fine girl. __ Mr. A.J. Greene, a prominent citizen of Omaha, happened to a very sad accident a few days ago. While driving a mule to a one horse wagon the mule became frightened and ran away, throwing him out. One arm was broken, shoulder dislocated and his body badly bruised. At last reports his condition was very critical. __ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/nw132newspape.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 12.3 Kb